Seven Steps To A New You.....

As we head towards a new year, a new beginning, here are 7 steps to a New You!

Step 1 – Discover YourselfThere is a purpose in each of our lives. We may need to dig deep within ourselves to find out what that purpose is, but the clearer our mission is, the better are our chances of accomplishing it. Each day is a new day, a day that brings fresh learning about ourselves and our environment. For this learning to happen, we need to be alert and reflect on our experiences. We are bound to learn at least one (if not several) powerful lesson daily, if we are fully conscious of what is going on around us. Every choice we make shapes our destiny. Therefore, let us make wise choices that are consistent with the type of destiny we are aspiring to.

A helpful way to gain insight into ourselves is to keep a daily journal. This is a useful tool for revealing what is really happening in our lives, as opposed to what we think is happening. It also allows us to better evaluate our motives, reactions, shortcomings, and strengths.

When we treasure who we are and believe in our inherent capabilities, we find that the world also starts to believe in us. When we are willing to bet on ourselves, the world will bet on us as well.

A blessing comes our way daily. Some people may appear to receive more blessings than others. However, the more we focus on what we have and what we are receiving daily, the more blessings we attract. So counting our blessings not only makes us focus on the positive things in our lives, but also creates the energy for multiplication of these blessings. We have no control over what others think and do. The only control we have is over our thoughts and actions. The more we concentrate on our thoughts and capacity, the more we take control of our happiness. This means ceasing to worry about what others think and giving people the benefit of doubt. The most we can be expected to do is our best.

Step 3 – Hone Your life SkillsWe have been given a finite amount of time on earth. The same twenty-four hours a day has been given to each one of us. How we spend our time, however, is our choice. Our happiness comes from focusing our energies on the things that we identify as important in life and that are aligned to our mission. If we try to do too much, our priorities become jumbled, which can lead to confusion, frustration, and unhappiness.

The more we involve ourselves in activities that carry the greatest meaning and value for us, the greater are our chances for experiencing real growth. This may mean giving up some, perhaps many, of the things we are habitually involved in. By doing fewer of these nonessential activities, we free up more time for the essentials. We increasingly focus on areas that are consistent with our goals, objectives, and purpose in life.

Step 4 – Build Healthy RelationshipsOur relationships with our close ones play a big part in our lives. When we have healthy relationships filled with love, respect, dialogue, and learning, we experience abounding happiness.Effective communication is a prerequisite to happy and fulfilling relationships. This entails open, sincere, and respectful dialogue and keeping our minds clear of bias and presumptions. Effective communication is more than just words; our actions and body language often communicate far more than our words do.Family is the heart of society which is made up of multitudes of families. Strong societies are comprised of strong families. Creating an enabling environment in the home and providing emotional support are the building blocks and keys to family unity and happiness. Being positive with our children and recognizing their good qualities at every opportunity can help them feel good about themselves.